Summary: Building the church takes discipline. It takes everyone in the body of Christ

Disclaimer: This sermon was gleaned from sources from sermon central and private study

INTRO-

THERE IS A BOOK CALLED “WHAT’S A PASTOR TO DO” - IT COVERS THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT IN MINISTRY. (ONLY 140 PAGES) IT DIDN’T COVER EVERYTHING.

1. PEOPLE WHO HAVE PERSONAL AGENDAS

2. PASTORAL HEALTH

3. PASTORAL IDENTITY

4. PASTORAL INTEGRITY

I THOUGHT ABOUT THE BOOK AFTER READING...IT TELLS ME WHO TO WATCH OUT FOR AS A PASTOR. IT TELLS ME WHAT TO DO TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY, HEALTH, AND IDENTITY.

WE HAVE A BOOK LIKE THAT GIVEN TO US BY GOD ALMIGHTY...AND IT IS CALLED THE BIBLE.

SO MANY PEOPLE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE, DIRECTION, THE WILL FOR THEIR LIFE...ANSWERS FOR THEIR QUESTIONS THEY NEED ANSWERED. THE BIBLE GIVES US THOSE ANSWERS AND FOR MOST , THEY DON’T EVEN CONSIDER IT.

GOD IS THE LAST RESORT LIKE CALLING THE AAA DRIVER WHEN YOU HAVE A BREAK DOWN.

80 % OF ALL PEOPLE IN THE U.S. CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS

WE KNOW THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE-THEIR LIVES TELL US DIFFERENT

60% OF ALL AMERICANS ATTEND CHURCH AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH

12% OF AMERICANS READ THEIR BIBLE

23% NEVER READ THEIR BIBLE

25% OF CHURCH MEMBERS NEVER PRAY

60 % NEVER GIVE TO MISSIONS

70% NEVER ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CHURCH

85 % NEVER INVITE ANYONE TO CHURCH

95% NEVER WIN ANYONE TO CHRIST

STATISTICS TELL US THAT WE NEED A SERVANTS HEART IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST...AND WE NEED TO CHOOSE WHAT SIDE OF THE FENCE WE ARE ON

WE ARE BEING BLESSED AS A CHURCH RIGHT NOW. WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME NEW LIFE.

THE VINE HAS NEW LIFE. WE ARE SEEING FRUIT FROM OUR LABOR.

WE HAVE A GREAT EXPECTATION OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SERVICE.

THOUGHT- IF THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS FOR THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL IS WINNING SOULS AND THEN DISCIPLING THEM INTO MATURE CHRISTIANS, THEN THE PRESENT DAY CHURCH IS IN TROUBLE.

85% NEVER INVITING PEOPLE TO CHURCH

95% NEVER WINNING A SOUL FOR JESUS

25% NEVER PRAY

THAT’S NOT PASTORAL STUFF...THAT IS BELIEVER’S STUFF. THINGS TOLD THE BELIEVER THAT HE/SHE NEEDS TO BE DOING

IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE TO SEE GOD MOVE, WE NEED TO BE THE EXCEPTION TO THE STATISTICS I JUST READ.

IF WE ARE GOING TO BE THE CHURCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION..”WHICH IS OKAY”

“WE DON’T MIND POTHOLES BEING FIXED, BUT THE ROAD CANNOT BE CLOSED FOR YEARS TO DO IT”

THE EARLY CHURCH FACED THE SAME PROBLEMS WE FACE AND THE LORD IN HIS WORD GIVES US SOME EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW.